Nihon Hidankyo expresses hope for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula

June 13&14, 2018

Following the historic meeting between the U.S. and North Korean leaders, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) on June 12 held a press conference in Tokyo and expressed the hope that the ongoing move toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula continues going forward.

At the press conference, Hidankyo Representative Director Tanaka Terumi stressed that it is a big step forward that the U.S. and North Korea agreed to establish “new relations”. He said, “The denuclearization process will take place in accordance with the development of a trust-based relationship between the two nations. Inevitably, the Japanese government’s policy of depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella will become an issue.”

The Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) on June 13 issued a comment on the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting.

In the comment, Gensuikyo Secretary General Yasui Masakazu demanded that the two leaders’ agreement be implemented without delay in order to denuclearize the peninsula and build peace. Yasui also pointed out that the Japanese government should make sincere efforts to help work for a denuclearized and peaceful Korean Peninsula as well as for the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations. He added that as the government of the only A-bombed nation, it should work hard to strengthen the global tide reaching toward a world without nuclear weapons in the region.

In response to the Trump-Kim summit meeting, the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan issued statements, respectively. The two organizations in their statements stated that they look forward to seeing the dream of the realization of denuclearization and a lasting peace come true.